J is for June and July!!

Summer is here!! From camps to family trips, June and July are by far my favorite months of the year!! This summer we will be heading to NYC and then on to Ireland to see family. One of our sons will be helping lead at a Christian day camp while the other attends as a camper. And although I will still be working most days, it's wonderful knowing that we can have long nights just hanging together as a family!

What will YOU be doing these next few months?  Here are just a few ideas for some summer fun!

Inside Activities:

• Board games such as Clue or Monopoly
• Word games such as Hang-Man and Scrabble
• Game show games such as Win, Lose, or Draw
• Get a head start on your summer reading

Outside Activities:

• Jump rope, sidewalk chalk, bubbles
• Childhood games like Mother May I, Red light/Green light, Tag or Four Square
• Play catch or basketball, throw Frisbees or create a Frisbee golf game
• Put on a play or a talent show. Use the children's stuffed animals as your audience.

RealSimple.com also provided a GREAT idea for Summer - An Activities Checklist:

Nostalgic Activities…

ð        See at movie at a drive-in theatre

ð        Ride a roller coaster

ð        Play a round of mini golf

ð        Win a prize at a fair

ð        Catch fireflies at night

ð        Build a sandcastle at the beach

Fun Eats & Drinks…

ð        Pick berries or peaches at a farm

ð        Buy an ice cream treat from an ice cream truck

ð        Make lemonade from scratch

ð        Eat a slice of watermelon and have a seed spitting contest

ð        Buy fresh fruits and veggies at a local farmer’s market

ð        Make your own ice cream

ð        Have a backyard BBQ with new friends

Ways to Relax…

ð        Nap in a hammock

ð        Have a family picnic in the park

ð        Sit on a porch swing

ð        Stargaze on a trampoline

ð        Watch the sun set while at the beach

ð        Dangle your feet off a dock

ð        Bring a blanket to an outdoor event

Get outside…

ð        Pick wildflowers

ð        Swim in a lake or river

ð        Ride a bike through a park

ð        Go fishing, hiking, or camping

ð        Play a game of tennis

ð        Toss a Frisbee

ð        Collect seashells at the beach

ð        Get caught in a summer rainstorm

ð        Walk barefoot in the grass

No matter what, be creative, enjoy each other, and make this June and July the best ever!